getting strong OBS vibes 30 minutes into the first episode... which is not at all a bad thing, mind. Because the exes to lovers trope is quite underused and offers a very interesting, different dynamic if used and done well (as it was in OBS)
it is slower paced because it is very character-focused and examines how they tick and why, their relationships, backgrounds and their journey of healing to betterment, so to speak. Particularly ML, of course.
But tbh, 2521 did not have much action (outside the fencing scenes) either so IYWUM's narrative pace is kinda similar i think? (First two-three episodes can feel quite slow but it all picks up/comes together after that)
This drama is a mess and then some. ML is an emotionally constipated dickhead with anger issues, FL has zero self esteem nor any respect for herself, plus her favorite hobbies are drinking all the time to the point of alcoholism, sobbing and wallowing in self-pity to a masochistic degree. Which, tbh, fits the narrative of EVERYONE and their cat using her as their punching bag without her ever fighting back. SFL is a fake ass barbie who creeps me out with her toxic positivity, need for attention and obsession over ML, and SML only trait is "woe is meeeee" while having the personality of a blank drywall. ML's sister needs therapy and AA lifetime meetings/counseling. Actually they all need therapy, or in ML's case a better therapist because whatever tf he is doing it is clearly NOT working.
And while we are at it: the characters' consumption amount of alcohol is downright on a "yall have a serious alcoholism problem danger level. I hate hate HATE how this drama depicts drinking, like korean drinking culture is one thing/unhealthy enough, but to show characters "solving/drowning" their problems in alcohol to the point of them blacking out EVERY SINGLE TIME/NIGHT is downright dangerous and irresponsible.
I have rarely seen such a concentration of unsympathetic characters in one single drama, be it side or main characters. The romance with its push and pull/back and forth and outright refusal of any communication (mostly from ML's side) and her dependency on ML to feel any happiness is frustrating and very unhealthy too. And yet, and yet I cannot stop watching it and i don't even know why. For some unknown reason, I keep rushing from one episode to the next, fascinated by the mess one single writer could create while oddly STILL rooting for any characters to get a grip. In 12 episodes, it has not happened yet. So i guess this must be the famous traffic accident (pun intended, given its plot haha) effect, where one should look away but can't. And imo, this sums up this show best.😬🤣
If you liked the themes within Tomorrow, Mystic Pop Up Bar and/or Move To Heaven, i think you will like this drama…
Yeah true, i was just naming dramas i have seen. Haven't seen chocolate yet, which is why i have not listed it here. may be a better/closer fit, even though when you take away the supernatural elements from Tomorrow/MPUB what is left is stories about ordinary people and helping them to move on from their struggle. And second chances. So the themes are similar, just "packed up" in a different way, if you will ;)
By now, Changho is way more impressive/scarier than BM, tbh. Like whenever he starts to laugh and then stops and stares... i get chills. He remained unbothered and untouched by everyone even after the reveal made by the new warden... and that all the way through the end of episode 12, where his Vincenzo transformation was finally completed. Always a step ahead in the game. *flicks lighter*
Can't believe this guy did fumble his way through the courtroom not long ago, from one misfortune to the next. But unreliable narrator or not, i guess he did not lie at the end of episode 1 when he said he was reborn as "the biggest lout" after the car crash, hahaha. Impressive how he not only learned to swim in the sea full of sharks, but *became* the biggest shark of them all. I almost pity these poor fools not knowing what will hit them. But only *almost* (¬‿¬)
Bossam is probably one of the best drama in Jung Ilwoo’s career you should check it out. Even he admits it himself.…
Oh that is good to know. I have put it on my "To watch next" list for now since my mood for historical dramas is quite low atm and already covered by Poong TJP. But i will keep it in mind for when the mood strikes to watch it.
And yeah, I have watched JIW in Cinderella and High End Crush by now and it seems to me he either gets no good offers or has no good hand in selecting scripts as he is always held back by mediocre writing/dramas. Which is a pity as i think he is quite the good actor but never can truly shine due to that.
Maybe this will still change, but as it is now, the secondary couple makes me very uncomfortable. Or rather Danah's treatment of Young Hwa does, as she treats him like dirt under her fingernails, like a peasant or annoying fly to be swatted away for 9 eps straight now. Yet the guy keeps coming back for more verbal/emotional abuse and it is really really icky and an unhealthy dynamic, imo. The narrative treats her as badass and "girlboss" with the one being in power and with money and i wish i could like the subversion of the overdone male CEO/poor woman dynamic/trope in kdramas.... but like her male ceo counterparts in other dramas i have a hard time seeing past her shitty behavior and treatment of people around her.
Nor is there much depth to her character or backstory to begin with that could make me empathize with her reasons of acting how she is. Hence why I just can't find anything endearing about her, or her supposed growing "romance" with the dirt-poor college art student. Because she confuses being badass with being an asshole and thus it just feels unbalanced and abusive whenever they interact. And don't get me started how she treats her brother. Yikes.
Is the Male Lead Autistic??FInished epidose one and i couldn't understand a single thing...
It is never stated, but imo he can be read as being somewhere on the spectrum as his awareness for social cues etc are quite low. Independent of autistic or not, he is a bit of an oddball and very different from other, "typical" MLs which i really like tbh.
If you liked the themes within Tomorrow, Mystic Pop Up Bar and/or Move To Heaven, i think you will like this drama too. It is slower paced bc it is very character-focused and does well with their development and backstories bit by bit, found family trope, romance is adorable as heck with a natural progression and a bit of sass/chaos. It is sad but not depressing with enough levity in between and lots of heart for the drama's themes (appreciation of life and the people you love, letting go/healing/moving on, second chances) and its characters. One of my most favorite airing dramas atm, bc it is so wholesome and makes me cry, aww and laugh, all in one episode.
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But tbh, 2521 did not have much action (outside the fencing scenes) either so IYWUM's narrative pace is kinda similar i think? (First two-three episodes can feel quite slow but it all picks up/comes together after that)
And while we are at it: the characters' consumption amount of alcohol is downright on a "yall have a serious alcoholism problem danger level. I hate hate HATE how this drama depicts drinking, like korean drinking culture is one thing/unhealthy enough, but to show characters "solving/drowning" their problems in alcohol to the point of them blacking out EVERY SINGLE TIME/NIGHT is downright dangerous and irresponsible.
I have rarely seen such a concentration of unsympathetic characters in one single drama, be it side or main characters. The romance with its push and pull/back and forth and outright refusal of any communication (mostly from ML's side) and her dependency on ML to feel any happiness is frustrating and very unhealthy too. And yet, and yet I cannot stop watching it and i don't even know why. For some unknown reason, I keep rushing from one episode to the next, fascinated by the mess one single writer could create while oddly STILL rooting for any characters to get a grip. In 12 episodes, it has not happened yet. So i guess this must be the famous traffic accident (pun intended, given its plot haha) effect, where one should look away but can't. And imo, this sums up this show best.😬🤣
Can't believe this guy did fumble his way through the courtroom not long ago, from one misfortune to the next. But unreliable narrator or not, i guess he did not lie at the end of episode 1 when he said he was reborn as "the biggest lout" after the car crash, hahaha. Impressive how he not only learned to swim in the sea full of sharks, but *became* the biggest shark of them all. I almost pity these poor fools not knowing what will hit them. But only *almost* (¬‿¬)
And yeah, I have watched JIW in Cinderella and High End Crush by now and it seems to me he either gets no good offers or has no good hand in selecting scripts as he is always held back by mediocre writing/dramas. Which is a pity as i think he is quite the good actor but never can truly shine due to that.
Nor is there much depth to her character or backstory to begin with that could make me empathize with her reasons of acting how she is. Hence why I just can't find anything endearing about her, or her supposed growing "romance" with the dirt-poor college art student. Because she confuses being badass with being an asshole and thus it just feels unbalanced and abusive whenever they interact. And don't get me started how she treats her brother. Yikes.